1855

George Hollings has fled London—and the treacherous lover who nearly ruined him—for New Zealand. But the world is smaller than he’d hoped. When his former lover resurfaces, carrying a threat that could destroy his fragile new life, George is forced to run again.

He joins his sister on an expedition to a remote island, a place whispered about in colonial circles: its indigenous people, the Yunher, are said to bathe in waters that grant eternal youth . . .

While the explorers chase gold and glory, George discovers something far more precious: a community, a sense of acceptance and a love he never expected. But as tensions rise and loyalties fray, George must choose between the world he knows and the people who might finally give him a home.

”An evocative novel alive with mystery, intricate world-building, and a powerful exploration of identity and belonging.” — Rosetta Allan, author of Purgatory.